Making an awesome Hollywood blockbuster movie comes at a high price. Though a big budget doesn’t always guarantee a huge box-office hit, some producers are still willing to front the cost, and hope for the best.
Check out the top 30 most expensive movies ever made. These are Hollywood’s biggest-budget spectacles. Please keep in mind that all budget estimates on this list have been adjusted for inflation. Enjoy!
30. The Lone Ranger”: $218 million
Disney
Original estimated budget: $215 million
Worldwide gross: $260.5 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $264.2 million
29. “Oz the Great and Powerful” (2013): $218 million
Walt Disney Pictures
Original estimated budget: $215 million
Worldwide gross: $493.3 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $500.3 million
28. “Troy” (2004): $218.9 million
Warner Bros.
Original estimated budget: $175 million
Worldwide gross: $497.4 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $622 million
27. “Quantum of Solace” (2008): $219.4 million
Sony/Columbia Pictures
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $586.1 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $643.1 million
26. “2012” (2009): $220.2 million*
Sony / Columbia
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $769.7 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $847.5 million
25. “Terminator Salvation” (2009): $220.2 million
Warner Bros.
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $371.5 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $408.9 million
24. “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009): $220.2 million
Paramount / DreamWorks
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $836.3 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $920.9 million
23. “The Avengers” (2012): $226.4 million
Disney / Marvel
Original estimated budget: $220 million
Worldwide gross: $1.5 billion
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1.56 billion
22. “Man of Steel” (2013): $228.2 million
Original estimated budget: $225 million
Worldwide gross: $668 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $677.5 million
21. “Men in Black III” (2012): $231.5 million
Original estimated budget: $225 million
Worldwide gross: $624 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $642 million
20. “The Amazing Spider-Man” (2012): $236.7 million
Original estimated budget: $230 million
Worldwide gross: $752.2 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $779.9 million
19. “Wild Wild West” (1999): $241.1 million
Warner Bros.
Original estimated budget: $170 million
Worldwide gross: $222.1 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $315 million
18. “Superman Returns” (2006): $244.9 million
Warner Bros.
Original estimated budget: $209 million
Worldwide gross: $391 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $458.3 million
17. “X-Men: The Last Stand” (2006): $246.1 million
Fox
Original estimated budget: $210 million
Worldwide gross: $459.4 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $538.3 million
16. “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” (2008): $246.9 million
Disney
Original estimated budget: $225 million
Worldwide gross: $419.7 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $460.5 million
15. “Spider-Man 2” (2004): $250.1 million
Sony
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $783.8 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $980.3 million
14. “King Kong” (2005): $250.4 million
Universal
Original estimated budget: $207 million
Worldwide gross: $550.5 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $665.9 million
13. “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” (2003): $256.8 million
Warner Bros.
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $433.4 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $556.5 million
12. “John Carter” (2012): $257.2 million
Disney
Original estimated budget: $250 million
Worldwide gross: $284.1 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $292.4 million
11. “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012): $257.2 million
Original estimated budget: $250 million
Worldwide gross: $1.08 billion
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1.1 billion
10. “The Hobbit” (2012): $257.2 million
Warner Bros. / MGM
Original estimated budget: $250 million
Worldwide gross: $1.02 billion
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1.05 billion
9. “Avatar” (2009): $261 million
Fox
Original estimated budget: $237 million
Worldwide gross: $2.8 billion
Worldwide adjusted gross: $3.1 billion
8. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006): $263.7 million
Disney
Original estimated budget: $225 million
Worldwide gross: $1 billion
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1.2 billion
7. “Waterworld” (1995): $271.3 million
Universal
Original estimated budget: $175 million
Worldwide gross: $264.2 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $409.6 million
6. “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” (2009): $275.3 million
Warner Bros.
Original estimated budget: $250 million
Worldwide gross: $934.4 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1 billion
5. “Tangled” (2010): $281.7 million
Original estimated budget: $260 million
Worldwide gross: $590.7 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $641.1 million
4. “Spider-Man 3” (2007): $293.9 million
Sony Pictures / Columbia
Original estimated budget: $258 million
Worldwide gross: $890.9 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1 billion
3. “Titanic” (1997): $294.3 million
Paramount
Original estimated budget: $200 million
Worldwide gross: $2.2 billion
Worldwide adjusted gross: $3.2 billion*
*Includes tickets for 2012 “Titanic 3-D” re-release.
2. “Cleopatra” (1963): $339.5 million
AP
Original estimated budget: $44 million
Gross in 1963: $57.8 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $445.8 million
1. “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” (2007): $341.8 million
Disney
Original estimated budget: $300 million
Worldwide gross: $963.4 million
Worldwide adjusted gross: $1.1 billion
(Source: Business Insider)